2 000 farm workers retrenched: report

Cape Town 100818- Anhalt farm workers working at the farm. Provincial commitee visited the farm and spoke to the farm workers.Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Andisiwe

Johannesburg - At least 2000 farm workers were issued with retrenchment notices on Wednesday, Business Day reported on Thursday.

This, as the agricultural sector shed jobs ahead of thje implementation of a new minimum wage, and as mechanisation on farms gathered pace.

The paper reported analysts warning that thousands more would be shed when the new wage comes into effect at the beginning of next month.

Agricultuiral Machinery Association secretary Jim Rankin told Business Day he expected he expected farmers to look more closely at mechanisation “in the light of the last six months” - during which workers went on strike and unions demanded big pay rises Ä